I always knew I liked our weather:
Best comfort zone in Canada
Weather guru shocked by his own data
Brock Harrison
The Edmonton Journal; with files from The Canadian Press
August 24, 2005
EDMONTON - The next time you frost your eyebrows and lose all feeling in your cheeks while scraping ice off your windshield during a raging winter blizzard, remember -- Alberta has the most comfortable weather in the country.
What's that you say? That's crazy? Tell that to Toronto's David Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment Canada, who has spent bits and pieces of the last five years analysing three decades worth of weather data to arrive at that seemingly silly conclusion.
"I know it sounds a little crazy; people tend of think of Alberta as one long winter, but in terms of year-round comfort, nobody can beat it," Phillips said.
Phillips's analysis pitted the provinces and territories against each other in 70 different weather categories, 24 of which he calls "comfort indicators," using uninterrupted climate data accumulated since 1971 from weather stations across Canada.
British Columbia would top the comfort list, Phillips thought when he embarked on the exhaustive project.
With its mild winters, warm summers and sparse snowfall, he was almost ready to crown the coastal province before his study was concluded.
It turns out there was more to "comfort" than even he thought.
"If there's anyone out there who shouldn't be surprised by weather data, it's me, and I was a little surprised by Alberta," Phillips said.
"But when I really think about it, I'd want warm springs, warm autumns, no smog, no freezing rain, light winds, low humidity, tolerable summers and not much snow. And that is Alberta."
Wait a minute, did he say "not much snow?" If there's anything Alberta winters are known for, it's frigid temperatures and driveway snow drifts that dwarf the average human. But here's where Phillips' findings get surprising.
Since 1971, Alberta has ranked eighth in total snowfall among the 13 provinces and territories, averaging 140 centimetres a year. The yearly snowfall average is 201 centimetres.
Our province also holds the distinction of having the most sunny days in cold months, with 115, and the most sunny days overall year round, with 312. It also ranked second in the fewest snow days each year with 60 and third in most days with light wind, with 296.
The combinations make for an unbeatable Canadian climate, Phillips says.
"Although it's clearly not based on the misery you guys have suffered this summer," he laughs.
What it is based on is a carefully crafted formula. Each weather station is weighted based on its geographic location and population density and assessed a percentage value.
Alberta's newfound claim to climate fame could even be used as a marketing tool, Phillips says.
"'Alberta -- Canada's most comfortable province,' I could maybe see that on a brochure," said Travel Alberta spokesman Don Boynton.
"Believe it or not, our weather really is a reason why people move and visit here."
University of Alberta climate expert Edward Lozowski gives half a laugh when told of Phillips' findings. He prefers the adjective "stimulating" to "comfortable" when describing Alberta's climate.
THE JOURNAL
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...Continued
"It forces us to change and adapt and at times it's a real challenge," he said. "I'm not so sure about comfortable. We have floods, we have droughts, we have tornadoes, we have hail and we have snow and cold. I guess we don't have hurricanes, so that's good."
Phillips expects a few eyebrows to be raised by his findings, but says Albertans should realize how good they have it.
"Like most people, Albertans tend to focus on the negative, which is the cold, but that's just one aspect in really a very nice climate."
The study found that Nova Scotia is the warmest province year-round, Saskatchewan has the most sunlight at 2,206 hours a year, and B.C. has the fewest snow days, lightest winds and warmest springs.
New Brunswick has the hottest summers while P.E.I. has the most humid summers. Ontario has the most thunderstorm days at 22 per year. The coldest place is Nunavut.
PROVINCIAL RANKINGS
1. Alberta
2. Saskatchewan
3. British Columbia
4. Ontario
5. New Brunswick
6. Prince Edward Island
7. Yukon
8. Nova Scotia
9. Manitoba
10. Northwest Territories
11. Nunavut
12. Newfoundland
13. Quebec
ALBERTA'S RANKINGS
Category Rank Value
Lowest annual snowfall 1st 140 cm
Sunniest year-round 2nd 2,203 hours/year
Most dry days 3rd 239 days
Sunniest spring 4th 674 hours
Hottest summer 5th 21.8 C average
Warmest year-round 5th 1.7 C average
Fewest freezing days 5th 203 days
Humidex days above 30 C 7th 9 days
Coldest winter 8th -19 C average
Ran with fact boxes "Provincial Rankings" and "Alberta'sRankings" which have been appended to this story.
Best comfort zone in Canada
Weather guru shocked by his own data
Brock Harrison
The Edmonton Journal; with files from The Canadian Press
August 24, 2005
EDMONTON - The next time you frost your eyebrows and lose all feeling in your cheeks while scraping ice off your windshield during a raging winter blizzard, remember -- Alberta has the most comfortable weather in the country.
What's that you say? That's crazy? Tell that to Toronto's David Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment Canada, who has spent bits and pieces of the last five years analysing three decades worth of weather data to arrive at that seemingly silly conclusion.
"I know it sounds a little crazy; people tend of think of Alberta as one long winter, but in terms of year-round comfort, nobody can beat it," Phillips said.
Phillips's analysis pitted the provinces and territories against each other in 70 different weather categories, 24 of which he calls "comfort indicators," using uninterrupted climate data accumulated since 1971 from weather stations across Canada.
British Columbia would top the comfort list, Phillips thought when he embarked on the exhaustive project.
With its mild winters, warm summers and sparse snowfall, he was almost ready to crown the coastal province before his study was concluded.
It turns out there was more to "comfort" than even he thought.
"If there's anyone out there who shouldn't be surprised by weather data, it's me, and I was a little surprised by Alberta," Phillips said.
"But when I really think about it, I'd want warm springs, warm autumns, no smog, no freezing rain, light winds, low humidity, tolerable summers and not much snow. And that is Alberta."
Wait a minute, did he say "not much snow?" If there's anything Alberta winters are known for, it's frigid temperatures and driveway snow drifts that dwarf the average human. But here's where Phillips' findings get surprising.
Since 1971, Alberta has ranked eighth in total snowfall among the 13 provinces and territories, averaging 140 centimetres a year. The yearly snowfall average is 201 centimetres.
Our province also holds the distinction of having the most sunny days in cold months, with 115, and the most sunny days overall year round, with 312. It also ranked second in the fewest snow days each year with 60 and third in most days with light wind, with 296.
The combinations make for an unbeatable Canadian climate, Phillips says.
"Although it's clearly not based on the misery you guys have suffered this summer," he laughs.
What it is based on is a carefully crafted formula. Each weather station is weighted based on its geographic location and population density and assessed a percentage value.
Alberta's newfound claim to climate fame could even be used as a marketing tool, Phillips says.
"'Alberta -- Canada's most comfortable province,' I could maybe see that on a brochure," said Travel Alberta spokesman Don Boynton.
"Believe it or not, our weather really is a reason why people move and visit here."
University of Alberta climate expert Edward Lozowski gives half a laugh when told of Phillips' findings. He prefers the adjective "stimulating" to "comfortable" when describing Alberta's climate.
THE JOURNAL
Latest News
Best comfort zone in Canada
<< PREVIOUS | 1 | 2
CREDIT: John Lucas, The Journal, file
#1 lowest annual snowfall
...Continued
"It forces us to change and adapt and at times it's a real challenge," he said. "I'm not so sure about comfortable. We have floods, we have droughts, we have tornadoes, we have hail and we have snow and cold. I guess we don't have hurricanes, so that's good."
Phillips expects a few eyebrows to be raised by his findings, but says Albertans should realize how good they have it.
"Like most people, Albertans tend to focus on the negative, which is the cold, but that's just one aspect in really a very nice climate."
The study found that Nova Scotia is the warmest province year-round, Saskatchewan has the most sunlight at 2,206 hours a year, and B.C. has the fewest snow days, lightest winds and warmest springs.
New Brunswick has the hottest summers while P.E.I. has the most humid summers. Ontario has the most thunderstorm days at 22 per year. The coldest place is Nunavut.
PROVINCIAL RANKINGS
1. Alberta
2. Saskatchewan
3. British Columbia
4. Ontario
5. New Brunswick
6. Prince Edward Island
7. Yukon
8. Nova Scotia
9. Manitoba
10. Northwest Territories
11. Nunavut
12. Newfoundland
13. Quebec
ALBERTA'S RANKINGS
Category Rank Value
Lowest annual snowfall 1st 140 cm
Sunniest year-round 2nd 2,203 hours/year
Most dry days 3rd 239 days
Sunniest spring 4th 674 hours
Hottest summer 5th 21.8 C average
Warmest year-round 5th 1.7 C average
Fewest freezing days 5th 203 days
Humidex days above 30 C 7th 9 days
Coldest winter 8th -19 C average
Ran with fact boxes "Provincial Rankings" and "Alberta'sRankings" which have been appended to this story.